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Thursday, February 28, 2019

Creating a Rough Road to a HEA with Kelli Wilkins

Hi Everyone,

My
name is Kelli Wilkins and I’m a romance writer who loves torturing my
characters. Why? So I can get them back together for a happily-ever-after (HEA)
ending!

Let’s
face it, romance readers know they are going to get a HEA before they pick up a
book. The hero or heroine isn’t going to die—unless you’re reading a paranormal
and someone turns into a vampire, and even then, it just makes the story more
interesting!

People
read romances for different reasons: for great storylines, to live vicariously
through the characters they care about, and to know that whatever obstacles
these lovers face, they’ll overcome them together.

I
write stories based around characters who find each other, fall deeply in love,
and live happily ever after—but not without going through some emotional ups
and downs. Although my characters love each other, everything isn’t always
roses and sunshine. As they work through their challenges, they have to learn a
few lessons about themselves, trust, honesty, or whatever their personal internal
struggles are.

For
example, Sherrie and Curtis, in my contemporary romance, Trust with Hearts, have
to work through painful issues in their pasts before they can open up and learn
to trust again. In my historical fantasy, A Most Intriguing Temptation, Elara and Dalton learn important
lessons about temptation and fidelity. And in my gay romance, A
Secret Match, Everett struggles to come to terms with his sexuality and
be open about who he really is. These trials and emotional hardships are
realistic challenges that people face in their lives. Once the characters have
learned what they need to, they can live HEA.

But
sometimes love can be a surprise. In some of my books, the characters aren’t
looking for love—it’s the furthest thing from their minds—but there it is.
Brian was taking in the waves when he found his true love on a deserted beach
in Confessions
of a Vampire’s Lover.
Although these types of relationships are uncommon, the characters focus on
commitment and “being there” for the other person for the long haul, no matter
what.

Many
of my characters find true love when they are willing to open their hearts and
risk sharing their deepest emotions, darkest secrets, and intimate desires—and
then discover that the other person loves them even more for it. David and Jack
from Four
Days with Jack are an excellent example of how opening up and risking
rejection can lead to true love. Claudette, from A Most Unfortunate Prince,
has a checkered past and is hesitant to confess her secret to Allan, but when
she does, she finds true acceptance.

One of
the things I like about writing romances is that I can make life miserable for
the main characters and keep readers wondering: How are they going to live
happily-ever-after? How will they get past this? For me, the how is the fun part.

In my
books, I make sure the characters get on each other’s nerves, and I add lots of
conflict (external and internal) to pull them apart. The conflict can be
anything that will destroy their happy world: maybe he won’t compromise; his
parents don’t approve because she’s from a different ethnic background; the
hero finds out the heroine has a secret; the man he loves cheated on him (or so
he thinks); his beloved princess was kidnapped; or a blackmailer wants her dead.

Whether
you read historicals, fantasy, gay, paranormal, or contemporary romances (or a
combination of genres) you’re always guaranteed a great story, troubled
characters you can’t help but root for, some steamy love scenes, and a
happy-ever-after ending. Because in the end, love conquers all, and that’s how
it should be.

Here’s
a look at my latest releases, Cupid’s Schemes - Volumes 1 & 2.
These mini-romances are all about new beginnings that lead to happy endings!

Cupid’s Schemes -
Volume 1

A Collection of
Sweet Romances

In these 16 flash fiction vignettes,
Cupid’s arrow hits the mark and ignites a spark between two strangers—whether
or not they’re looking for romance. Their unusual meetings lead to new
beginnings and new chances at love.

Sweet stories of couples falling under
Cupid’s spell include:

* a
Medieval knight courting a pretty lady
* two neighbors discover that romance can happen when you least expect it
* a dehydrated mermaid rescued by a handsome stranger

These lighthearted
mini-romances are perfect reads for a quick lunchtime escape or an after-work
indulgence.Order
your copy here:

* photographer falls for a sexy
cowboy in a supposedly abandoned ghost town
* new neighbors discover that romance can happen when you least expect it
* a long-lost love returns in an unexpected setting

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has
published more than 100 short stories, 19 romance novels, 5 non-fiction books,
and 2 online writing courses. Her romances span many genres and heat levels,
and she’s also been known to scare readers with her horror stories.

She
published the second half of her flash fiction series, Cupid’s Schemes, in early
2019. These two volumes of lighthearted mini-romances are perfect reads for a
quick lunchtime escape or an after-work indulgence.

Kelli released her latest Teachable mini-course, Fiction
Basics: Finding Ideas in February 2019. She authoredFiction Writingfor BeginnersthroughTeachable in 2018. These courses are perfect for anyone who wants to learnhow
to write. Visit: https://kelliwilkins.teachable.com/ for more details.

If you like horror fiction, don’t miss her latest novella, Nightmare
in the North.